Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

It Could Have Been A Fierce Rival To EpiPen, But Early Missteps Cut This Alternative Off At Knees

The Adrenaclick auto-injector checks all the necessary boxes: The government declared it safe, national pharmacies sell it and its list price is a third less than the EpiPen. But selling a drug takes far more than that. Meanwhile, the feds are turning their attention to Valeant's former CEO and CFO in their fraud investigation.

The New York Times:
Also-Ran To EpiPen Reaches For A Closing Window Of Opportunity
As the list price of a pair of EpiPen devices soared to more than $600 this summer, people scurried to find alternatives, occasionally throwing caution to the wind. Some bought cheap syringes filled with epinephrine, the medication in EpiPens; others made homemade auto-injectors, following the steps in a popular YouTube video. Few people, though, have turned to the one true alternative — known by the brand name Adrenaclick. (Thomas, 11/1)

Bloomberg:
Valeant Ex-CEO, Ex-CFO Are A Focus Of U.S. Criminal Probe
U.S. prosecutors are focusing on Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.’s former CEO and CFO as they build a fraud case against the company that could yield charges within weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. Authorities are looking into potential accounting fraud charges related to the company’s hidden ties to Philidor Rx Services LLC, a specialty pharmacy company that Valeant secretly controlled, the people said. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan and agents at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York have been investigating the company for at least a year. (Berthelsen, Farrell, Weinberg and Koons, 10/31)

And in other pharmaceutical news —

The Wall Street Journal:
Cardinal Health Cuts Profit Guidance
Cardinal Health Inc. became the latest drug distributor to warn that the slowing pace of branded drug-price increases, and lower generic-drug pricing, was hurting results. During a conference call, Chief Executive George Barrett said the company faces a “very challenging” environment, as drug manufacturers react to criticism of high drug prices and pharmacies shop among distributors for the best generic prices. (Evans and Hufford, 10/31)

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